Production Manager Job at Open Gates Group in Wellman
Open Gates Group, Wellman, IA, US, 52356
Open Gates Group, based near Kalona, IA, is a family of companies dedicated to the growth and manufacturing of local dairy products. What began as a single creamery has grown into 11 businesses that source, produce, and deliver high-quality Midwestern products to over 3,500 stores nationwide. Our organic milk is uniquely special because it comes from grass-fed cows on small family farms, pasteurized at the lowest legal temperature, non-homogenized, and verified regenerative through Land to Market- which means that our cows are grazed in a way that enhances the environment, rather than harming it. We're looking for a hands-on Production Manager to lead our dairy production operations.
Position Summary
The Production Manager is a highly hands-on role focused on ensuring efficient, safe, and high-quality dairy production processes, while fostering a strong team culture that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and food safety. We're looking for someone who is process-driven and thrives in a production environment-someone who doesn't just want to lead from a distance but is actively involved on the floor, where the work is happening.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and coach a team of supervisors and production staff, fostering accountability, teamwork, and engagement.
- Conduct regular coaching discussions and provide professional development opportunities.
- Develop staffing schedules, oversee training, and ensure employees understand roles, responsibilities, and company policies.
The Production Manager is a highly hands-on role focused on ensuring efficient, safe, and high-quality dairy production processes, while fostering a strong team culture that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and food safety. We're looking for someone who is process-driven and thrives in a production environment-someone who doesn't just want to lead from a distance but is actively involved on the floor, where the work is happening.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and coach a team of supervisors and production staff, fostering accountability and teamwork.
- Conduct regular coaching discussions and provide professional development opportunities.
- Develop staffing schedules, oversee training, and ensure employees understand roles, responsibilities, and company policies.
- Plan, coordinate, and oversee daily production activities to meet goals for safety, quality, and efficiency.
- Support the launch of new products by coordinating cross-functional teams and overseeing batching and processing activities.
- Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, SSOPs, OSHA, FDA, USDA, and organic certification requirements.
- Support a culture of food safety and quality across all operations.
Ensure compliance with food safety and quality management systems, including HACCP and SQF. - Review incidents of non-compliance, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.
- Monitor metrics related to production efficiency, safety, and quality.
- Analyze production data to identify trends and drive improvements.
- Lead and support change initiatives, introducing new processes or technologies to enhance plant performance.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement.
- Partner with cross-functional teams, including Quality, Supply Chain, R&D, and HR, to drive alignment and ensure operational success.
- Lead regular team meetings on production safety, performance, and process updates.
- Clearly communicate production goals, customer requirements, and expectations to all teams.
- Plan, coordinate, and oversee daily production activities to meet goals for safety, quality, and efficiency.
- Support the launch of new products by coordinating cross-functional teams and overseeing batching and processing activities.
- Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, SSOPs, OSHA, FDA, USDA, and organic certification requirements.
- Bachelor's degree in Food/Dairy Science, Agriculture, Business, Supply Chain, or related field preferred; candidates with a high school diploma/GED and 5+ years of proven production leadership will also be considered.
- 5+ years of leadership experience in a dairy plant or fluid food processing facility preferred.
- Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and manufacturing compliance (GMP, HACCP, OSHA, FDA, USDA).
- Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve production goals and business objectives.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage conflict professionally.
- Strong organizational, project management, and prioritization skills; able to adapt and lead through change.